Rebecca Low

The FuTuRe oF DIY FashIon

HYPOTHESIS

Giving direct access to creative design and production process will empower individuals

through collective collaborations while establishing a sense of belonging in a community

Rebecca Low

TRansPaRenCY & oPenness

Rebecca Low

Since the economic recession:

- people become more aware of how they spend their money - skepticism in behavior - people are not interested in luxury fashion - change of attitude creates a growing demand for:

FashIoneConoMY

transparency, uniqueness, quality and

craftsmanship from brands.Rebecca Low

The DIY Bloggers

- things can be done at home with old materials

- easily sharing information while acknowledging others non-authorship - free information - low cost - establishing connections between individuals and groups

T-shirt Restyle: (via Fine and Feathered)

11. Men’s Shirt into a Sundress: (via Brit + Co)

12. Pocket T-Shirt:. (via Oh the Lovely things)

COMMUNITY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

SELF-EXPRESSIONSHARING

ACCESSIBLECONNECTED

BRIT & Co.

Rebecca Low

DeMoCRaTIZaTIon

Rebecca Low

“... an instrument of personal liberation and freedom of expression, with the potential to flatten hierarchies, decentralize organizations and unleash collective creativity.”

At the roots of open sourcing in 1968, Doug Engelbart has a vision for the future of The Internet:

FashIon FoR aLL

Rebecca Low

The Pro-Am

- Kickstarter as platform involves everyone in process of creation

- raw tools for creation

- breaking the boundaries between professionals and amateurs - shift from consumer to prosumer where individuals in production process - concern for environment

Lumi’s tools for printing makes it easy to design or customize your own apparel

LuMI & KICKsTaRTeR

CO-COLLABORATION TOOLS SELF-EXPRESSION

ACCESSIBLEUSER-FOCUSEDRebecca Low

3D PRInTIng

Rebecca Low

3D printing is being used most heavily in the Maker culture and adds flexibility, versatility and ease to the process of creation:

- versatile use of materials (brass, stainless steel, gold, alumide, plastic, ceramic, polyamide, wood) - each printed piece can be easily customizable - production on-demand can help reduce waste by avoiding over production

- cost depends on material and amount of material being used

- Maker culture enthusiasts build their own 3D printers at home as hobby

FashIon TeChnoLogY

Rebecca Low

Rebecca Low

The Maker Culture

- Microsoft 3D Builder is a touchscreen app

MICRosoFT3D BuILDeR soFTWaRe

TOOLSPRODUCER ACCESSIBLEMODIFIABLE

- 3D Printing technology and customization

- design service providing high quality materials being tailored to your preference

- Kinematics is a jewelry collection designed by Nervous System specifically for people who already have 3D printers at home

NON-STANDARDIZATION TOOLSOPEN

SELF-EXPRESSION ACCESSIBLEMODIFIABLE

KIneMaTICs& neRVous sYsTeM

Rebecca Low

susTaInaBILITY

Rebecca Low

Fast Fashion (“NOTNESS” of DIY) is a reaction to the market based on trends with rapid turnover time. It has recently gained negative connotations due to environmental concerns.

- over-production of garments creates massive amounts of waste

- slow culture, craftsmanship are at forefront of consumers buying decisions and behavior

1 . 2 MILLION TONSof clothing went to landfill in

2005 in the UK alone.[[

]]13 MILLION TONS

of textiles generated anually in US.

Just 15% is recovered for reuse or recycling.

FashIon ConsuMPTIon

Rebecca Low

Reet Aus proposes changing the fashion cycle to enable sustainable mass production through UPCYCLING, exemplified through her own designed collection:

1. create waste mapping database to give designers overview of where, what type and quantity of textile waste being produced

2. provide manual or sharing platform of techniques for upcycling textile waste

3. an interactive platform/framework integrating elements to make direct communication possible between waste generators, designers and clients

ReeT aus

UPCYCLING COLLECTIVE DIRECT COMMUNICATION

SUSTAINABILITY TOOLS TRANSPARENCY

Reet Aus’ line introduces upcycling in mass-production at Beximco in Bangladesh. Each garment in the collection carries a label with a

unique calculation of the environmental impactRebecca Low

InsIghTs

oPenness

aCCessIBLITY

CoLLaBoRaTIon

eMPoWeRMenT

ideas are shared, information is downloadable, modifiable, results are undefinable and unpredictable

the act of creating and self-expression is for everyone

people are co-creators, co-producers, “genius” designer does not exist

people are culture creators, cultivate a slow culture, promote elimination of waste, sense of community & belonging

Rebecca Low

Rebecca Low

ReWeaRclothing that can be worn again is marketed worldwide as second-hand goods

Reusetextiles that are no longer suitable to wear are converted into other products

ReCYCLetextiles that can’t be reused get a new chance as textile fibres, or are use to manufacture products such as insulating materials for auto industry

eneRgYwhen rewear, reuse and recycle are not options, textiles are used to produce energy

H&M collaborates with DIY blogger Erica from “HonestlyWTFto feature a modified leather bag.

DIY& susTaInaBILITY

aCTIons

oPenness

aCCessIBLITY

CoLLaBoRaTIon

eMPoWeRMenT

elaborate on sharing and exposing truths about brand, increasing transparency in production chain

Empower individuals by nurturing consumer-consumer conversations while embracing their collective creative ownership over the H&M design and production process.{

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provide information and tools on digital platform such as app and reveal creative process to prosumers

give prosumers a place to give direct input together towards the brand by leveraging consumer-consumer conversations

produce and manufacture user-made designs to validate their contributions as co-creators

Rebecca Low

The FuTuRe oF DIY + h&M

Direct communication between brand and consumer is key to strengthening consumer’s brand

loyalty. The empowerment users receive from collectively creating and self-expressing should be embraced by inviting individuals into the world of

the H&M designer.

H&M can continue to be relevant and ahead of trends (ie. predicting color palettes or silhouettes)

the same way it is now while sharing these forecasts in real time, which also means being open to

sharing the same resources and tools to which only H&M’s designers currently have access.

If individuals will have the ability to produce their own garments in the future, what value will H&M add to the life of the future consumer? How will H&M sincerely remain relevant, especially amongst the DIY culture?

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Rebecca Low